diffident
/ˈdɪfɪdənt/ adjective
- adjective (archaic) Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
- adjective Lacking self-confidence; timid; modest
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin diffīdentem, present participle of diffīdere (“to mistrust”). Doublet of defiant.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Wanting confidence in others; distrustful. [Archaic]
- adjective Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.
Etymology [L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere; dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Defy.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “diffident”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details